Floor slab for plumbing fixtures



April 14, 1925.

0. H. MOHR FLOOR SLAB FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES 4 TORNEKS.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR H. MORE, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANKLIN W. DAKIN OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. I

FLOOR SLAB FOR PLUMBING FIXTURES.

Application filed April 10, 1924. Serial No. 705,483.

' To all whom it may 007%0677'1! Be it known that I, OSCAR H. Mona, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Floor Slabs for Plumbing Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a base or supporting structure, and'particularly to a base or floor slab for plumbing fixtures and the like.

Plumbing fixtures, such as toilet bowls, pedestal lavatories and the like, are usually not installed in a building until it has been practically completed. The rough plumbing, such as water pipes, waste pipes, traps, etc, are, however, installed when the frame of the building is erected and the subfiooring is laid, and while the plumber tries to take into consideration such dimensions, as finished floor levels, etc., and allows therefor, practical experience has proven that satisfactory results are not obtained, as there is not sufiicient cooperation between the different mechanics employed on the building. The carpenters do not work to very close dimensions and neither do the fioormen.

A variety of floors are used in buildings, and particularly in the bathrooms and toilets where the plumbing fixtures are installed. For instance, one builder may require a composition flooring, consisting of cement, magnesite or a like material; another builder may require a pine finished floor covered with heavy linoleum; still another may require a hard wood finish, tile and so on. Such floors may vary a half inch or more in thickness and it is for this reason that the plumber cannot always determine the level of the finished floor and poor joints and connections are, as a consequence, the result.

The object of the present invention is to provide a floor slab which may be installed in connection with the rough plumbing, and which will form a base or support for the plumbing fixtures when finally installed; to provide a floor slab which may be placed in position on the sub-floor and at an elevation with relation thereto which will represent the equivalent of the finished floor when laid; to provide a floor slab or base which may be levelled both longitudinally and laterally, thusforming a perfect support for the fixture to be placed thereon; a base or floor slab which is ornamental, and furthermore, a base or slab which will promote sanitation by permitting the formation of a raised cove and production of perfect joints, thus avoiding leakage, and furthermore, preventing a collection of dust and'dirt as is usually the case where a poor joint is made between the plumbing fixture and the floor.

One form which my invention may a"- sume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a floor slab such as employed in connection with a water toilet. a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sect-ion of the outlet of a water toilet showing it supported on thefloor slab, and also showing the connection made between the toilet and the waste pipe.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a floor slab or base such as employed in connection with a pedestal lavatory or the like.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

The floor sla b forming the subject matter of the present application is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; the floor slab there illustrated being particularly designed for the reception of a plumbing fixture, such as a .toilet bowl or the like. i

The floor slab consists ofa rectangular shaped plate, generally indicated at A, which may .beconstructed of any suitable material; forinstance, cast-iron which has been enamelled, vitreous china, porcelain and the like. The center port-ion of the plate is cored out or opened as indicated at B and the shape of the opening is preferably designed to conform with the outline or base of the fixture to be supported thereby. The edge or rim surrounding the opening B is raised to produce an elevated pad or supporting surface generally indicated at 2. This supporting surface assumes the general formation of a continuous flange as shown, and the outer edge of the flange is coved as indicated at 3 to produce a sanitary result and an ornamental effect and to raise the joint between the slab and the fixture supported thereby above the main surface a of the slab indicated at 4.

The continuous flange or supporting surface 2 formed on the slab is provided with two or more lugs as indicated at 5-'5 and G6; the end lugs 55 being provided for the purpose of securing a pair of Wooden spacing blocks as indicated at 7, the function of which will hereinafter be described, andthe lugs 66 being provided as a support for a waste pipe flange, generally indicated by dotted lines at 8. This flange is screwed or otherwise secured on the upper end oil". a waste pipe such as indicated at 9. The waste connection of the toilet bowl is indicated at 10 and this is adapted to extend through the flange and enter the upper end (it the waste pipe 9 as shown in Fig. 2. This connection is more or less standard and does not form any part of the present invention, the function of the flange 8 being that of securing the toilet bowl or fixture when placed in position, the securing means employed being bolts or the like as,indi cated at 11..

In actual practice it will be assumed that the framing of a building is being erected and that the rough or sub-flooring of the building has been laid. This flooring is generally indicated at U (see Figs. 1 and 2). The rough plumbing is installed at this time, to wit, water pipes, vents, waste pipes, traps, etc and a hole is therefore merely cut in the rough flooring as indicated at 12 to permit. the waste pipe 9 to extend therethrough. The floor slab A is dropped over the upper end of tie waste pipe and the flange 8 is next. applied. One or more wooden blocks, such as shown at 7, are then placed under the lugs 5 and thefioor slab is raised to the intended finished level of the floor. The floor slab .is at the same time levelled and it is then nailed to the blocks 7 or otherwise secured; one or more bolts being at the same time passed through the overlapping lugs (i and 8 to temporarily secure the floor slab in place. Further work, as far as the in stall-ation of plumbing is c oncernech is temporarily stopped until the buildingis substantially completed. During this period the interior woodworkis completed; plaster applied; floors are laid, and so on, and it the bathroom or toilet is tobe finished with a cement. or composition fioorin it will only be necessary for the fioorman to apply the material and to finish it to a level with relation to the. floor slab A which has already been installed. A perfect joint is thus obtained between the flooring and the floor slab and a smooth continuous surface is insured. ln otherwords, the builder determines or sets the finished floor level and the plumber and floorman work thereto. If a tile floor is to be laid, cement is placed on the rough flooring C (see Fig. 2 as indicated at 13) and it is finished off along the line indicated at l-al. The tile indicated at 15 is then laid and as the tile is presumed to have the same thickness as the floor slab. a

smooth and continuous surface is obtained. If other types of flooring are employed, substantially the same procedure will be insured it will be up to the floorman to finish his fioor on a level with the floor slab installed in conjunction with the rough plumbing. At a later date when the building has advanced to the proper point, the plumber again appears on the building site and he may then finally install the fixtures. As the floor slab has already been levelled and set, it obvious that the matter of connecting the toilet bowl and placing it will be simple, and it is furthermore obvious that a perfect and tight joint will be obtained between the base plate and the toilet bowl; this joint beii'ig indicated by the line 16. It is also obvious that it may be readily disconnected and reset whenever desired.

The use of a tloor slab in connection with a toilet bowl is exceedingly in'iportant as it not only promotes and improves the ornamental a 'ipearance of the installation as a whole, but it also promotes sanitation by having the floor connection raised above the floor line, thereby avoiding the accumulation of moisture, as is usually the case where a fixture sits on the floor, and insuring good joints and eliminating cracks or crevices in which dust and dirt may collect. The floor slab is equally important when pedestal lavatories are. considered as the same difi'iculties are encountered when the finished plumbing is installed. The waste connections of the lavatory usually pass through the side wall of a bathroom or the like and as the water inlet pipe and waste pipe are setin the wall during the building of the frame structure, it is obvious that any change infioor level above or below that previously determined by the plumber will effect the final connections; that is, we will suppose thatthe center of the waste pipe connection should be 2' 'G above the finished floor level and that the pipe was accordingly installed. ll during the finishing operation of the ho ise the floor level was changed by either raising or lowering the same above the predetermined level, a poor connection would be obtained asthe waste pipe connected with the lavatory bowl would necessarily have to be bent to make up for the deficiency or change in dimension. Such objections are entirely overcome by the use of the floor slab here illustrated. The type of slab employed for a pedestal lavatory is preferably that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. This :tloor slab is placed on the rough flooring when the waste connections, vents and water pipes are installed and the floor slab is at that time elevated by means of blocks such as shown at 7 to the. finished floor level intended. The tlo'orman in finishing the floors will therefore necessarily have to finish the floor to a level with the floor slab, and when the plumber finally makes the installation of the lavatory his fixed and predetermined dimensions can be relied upon, and all connections will be sound and perfect. The floor slab is, therefore, not only useful where the waste connection or pipe 9 passes through the floor, but it is equally useful where the waste connection passes through the side wall, and while the invention has been particularly described in connectionwith plumbing fixtures, it is obvious that other and numerous uses may be resorted to. I similarly wish it understood that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A floor slab of the character described, having a raised supporting surface formed thereon, the contour of said raised. surface conforming to the outline or base of a fixture to be supported thereon, said raised portion having an opening formed therein substantially centrally thereof.

2. A floor slab of the character described, comprising a substantially flat plate having a raised supporting surface formed there on, and an opening formed within the raised portion, said raised surface having a contour conforming to the fixture to be supported thereby, a rounded cove or filler formed between the raised portion and the flat surface of the slab, and a plurality of supporting lugs forming a part of the slab and extending into the opening, said lugs being placed on a plane below'the raised supporting surface and said lugs being perfora-ted.

The combination withthe sub-flooring of a buildingand a waste pipe extending therethrough, and a flanged coupling secured on its upper end, of a floor slab adapted to be placed over the Waste pipe, said slab having an opening formed therein through which the waste pipe may project, and means for securing the slab to the flanged coupling on the waste pipe and in an elevated position with relation to the sub-flooring.

l. The combination with the sub-flooring of a building and a Waste pipe extending therethrough, and a flanged coupling secured on its upper end, of a floor slab adapted to be placed over the Waste pipe, said floor slab having an opening formed therein through which the waste pipe may project, means for securing the slab to thefianged coupling on the waste pipe and in an elevated position with relation to the sub-flooring, and means for securing the slab with relation to the sub-floorin 5. The combination with the sub-flooring of a building and the waste pipe extending therethrough, said waste pipe having a flanged coupling secured on its upper end, of a substantially flat floor slab adapted to be placed over the Waste pipe, said slab having an opening formed therein through which the waste pipe may project, a raised surface formed on the slab and surrounding the opening, a pair of lugs formed on the slab and projecting into said opening, said flanges adapted to register with the flanges on the waste pipe coupling and to be secured thereto, and a second pairof flanges on the slab and extending into the opening, said flanges being perforated to permit securing means to be passed therethrough and into the sub-floorin 6. A floor slab of the character described, comprising a substantially flat plate having a raised supporting surface formed thereon, and an opening formed within the. raised portion, said raised surface having a contour conforming to the base portion of a fixture to be supported thereby, and a rounded cove or filler formed between the raised portion and the fiat surface of the slab.

OSCAR H. MOHR. 

